Vending machine



May 15, 1928. 1,669,717

C. L EA VENDING MACHINE` I uve n/o r1 0210/2136511 ecb, v

May l5, 1928. 1,669,717

c. LEA

VENDING MACHINE Filed sept. 9, 1921 4 sheets-sheet 2 inve-212322:.-

C. LEA

VENDING MACHINE 1 May 15, 1928. 1,669,717

Filed Sept. 9, 192] 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 May l5, 1928.

C. LEA

VENDING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed sept. 9, 1921 Patented May 15, 1928.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES LEA, OF BOSTON. MASSACHUSETTS. ASSIGNOR TO THE AUTOMATIC "llE-R-` CHANDIZER, IN C., GFl BOSTON, MASSCHUSETTS,A CORPORATIN OF DELAVJARE.

VENDING Application filed September My invention relates to vending machines. It will be best understood from the following description when read inthe light of the accon'ipanying drawings of a specific embodiment of my invention selected for illustrative purposes, while the scope of my invention will be more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings n Fig. 1 shows a Efront elevation of the labove referred to embodiment of. my invention;

Fig. 2 Fig. 1;

Figs. 3 and 4 respectively are sections on the lines 3-3 and 4-4 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view lookingr at the back of the coin controlled mechanism from the interior of the cabinet as viewed in Fig. 2, with `parts omitted and parts broken away;

Fig. 6 is a section on the line 6 6 of Fig'. 2;

Fig. 7 is a perspective view showing a detail;

Fig. 8 shows the connection between one of the screw carrying rods and the `member for rotating it;

Fig. 9 is a section on the line 9-9 of Fig. 8; and

Fig. 10 shows a fragment of aV towel and an attached tag.

Referring to the drawings of the embodiment selected for illustrating` my invention and particularly to Figs. 1 to 5 thereof, 1 have shown a Vcabinet for holding the articles to be vended, the latter being; discharged from the'cabinet through openings 1 formed through the lower portionfof the front wall 3 of the cabinet. Above the openings I have provided an openingn l which is closed by a casing; 5 secured to the front wall of the cabinet and containing mechanism rendered operative by a coin when inserted through the slot 7 formed in the upper wall of said casing. After a coin is inserted turning of the handle 8 supported in front of the casing will act to "discharge articles from the cabinet. The details of all the mechanism coacting with the coin do not form part of my present invention and therefore only so much of said mechanism will. be described as is necessary to` convey an understanding of how it is applied to my is ai sectiony on the line 2 2 of present invention.

MACHINE.

9, 1921. serai No. 499,989.

Extending' through the front of thecasing 5 and supported thereby is ashaft y9, which exteriorly of the casing` carries .the handle 8 and at its opposite end is Isupported in the bushing; 11 carried by the hack wall 13 of the cabinet. Interiorly of the casing the shaft 9 has fixed thereto a memf ber 15 which is provided with a slot 17 normally in alignment with the slot `7 .Of the casing. The member lcarries a sliding bar 19, the endof whichcooperates with the end of a pawl 21 pivoted to the casing. Then a coin is vinserted inthe slot 17.and the handle 8 is turned to rotate the shaft and member 15 clockwise as viewed in Fig. 5, the coin is moved to rest on the upper surface of the pawl 21 while the opposite side of the edge of the coin cooperates with a cam member 23 to depress the pawl and cause the bar 19 to be disengaged andthereby enable the shaft to befurther rotated. By means not necessary to describe the member 15 is permitted to move through a greater part of one revolution, after which further motion in this direction isprevented. On release of the handle 8 the shaft and `member 15 are returnedby means ofthe` torsion springr 27.to the position lin which the slots 7 and 17` are in alignment.

The lower portion ofthe casing1 5 provides a compartment 2li in which is placedatray 25 for receivingr the coins after they .fall from the slot 17. For holding 1`the tray in position I providea latch 28 pivoted to the cabinet. It will be noticed from this construction that coins can .be removed only by way of the interior of the cabinet and as will hereinafter appear onlyA after the articles to be vended are removed.

Adjacent the back wall 13 the shaft carries a chain sprocket wheel 29 which is freely rotatable on the shaft. of the wheel has formed on its inner annular end surface ratchet teeth 33 for cooperation with similar teeth 35 formed on the adjacent annular end of a sleeve 37, the sleeve being` .mounted on the shaft and pressed into en- Isagement `with the hub of the sprocket wheel by a. compression spring- 39 carried -by the shaft. To .cause the sleeve -to rotate ywith `the shaft, the former is provided with a longitudinally extending slot llwhich engages a radially extending; pin 'carried. by the shaft. this construction allowing the sleeve to move longitudinally of .theV shaft.

rllhe hub 31 llt) The. parts are so arranged that when the operator grasps the handle t3 and rotates the shaft, the clutch formed by the cooperating teeth of the sprocket wheel and sleeve will rotate the sprocket wheel and when the handle is released and the sha't't is turned in the reverse direction hy the spring Q? the teeth of the clutch will ride over each other without rotating the sprocket wheel. In other words, I havev provided means for rotating the sprocket wheel step by step and always in the same direction.

The sprocket wheel Q9 is in engagement with the endless chain if? which passes over sprocket wheels 49 at the upper portion ot the cabinet. lach sprocket wheel it) is fixed to a shaft 5l carried by a bracket 53 secured to the cabinet. Fixed to the opposite end of the shaft 51 is a mitre gear 55 in mesh with a similar gear 57 fixed to the vertical shaft. rotatably mounted in said bracket. By this construction. it will be noted that movement of the chain will rotate the shaft 59.

Each shaft 50 has integrally formed therewith a downwardly projecting head (il provided with a transverse slot. (til and an intersectingV longitudinal slot 6:1 the head at the intersection of the slots being further recessed to provide a pair oit' slots 6T in coinmunication with both the slot 63 and the slot G5. To each head is connected a rod 6). the latter being provided with a T-shaped head providing` a portion 7i for reception in the slots G7 and the portion 73 for reception in the slot 65. The lower portion ot each rod is provided with a head received in a bearingr 7T in the bottom wall 'T9 of the casing. It will be noticed particularly from Figs. 2, S and 9 that on lifting the rods the T-shaped heads may be removed through the slots (33 and the rods thereby detached from the heads 6l.

Near its lower portion each rod (Si) carries a can] in the form of a iin 8l shaped to provide a screw, which screw in the present embodiment. ot my invention makes slightlvv less than a quarter turn about the rod. These screws serve when rotated to release the articles to be vended and although l ma) otherwise provide I have shown members Sii for this purpose which are separate from the articles. These members are ot size and shape to suit the articles and in the embodiment selected tor illustrating my invention are in the form of thin flat plates interleaving the articles as indicated in the drawings at A. These plates are mounted on pairs of rods 69 and each is provided with a perforation having a cylindrical portion for receiving the rod and a slot Si' for receiving the screw. As will be obvious, the rotation of a pair ot rods 69 will cause the screw portions S1 thereof to enter the slots 87 and thereb)7 release a plate which thereupon will drop toward the bottom of the casingr followed bv the article supported on the plate and the entire stack will move downwardly until the, next plate rests on the shoulder allorded by the upper radial edge ot the screw. I have shown adjacent plates with the slotted portions 87 extending in opposite directions and b v so arranging the parts the plates when desired may be placed very close together to permit the vending of thin articles. This follows became with this construction l insure that the screw when in engagement with the slot, ST of a plate will not engage the slot. of the adjacent plate before the lire-'t plate is moved oill the screw. Vl'lreferablv. but not necessarily` when practicable. the axial length oi: the .screw will correspond substantialllv to the minimum thickness ol' the article to be kvendcd or to be at least but slightly less than this thickness.

For guiding the articles and protecting the chain from interference therefrom l provide, rods .Q8 carried by the back wall ol' the cabinet.

,elow the stacks l place an inclined plate S5) which extends through an opening fil formed in the trout Ylace of the cabinety and carries an upturned lip 93, the plate 'forming the lower 'faces of the openings l. The plate is provided with openings` U5 large enough to permit the plates to pass through them but small enough to prevent the articles to be vended from :so passing. Bj.' this means when a plate 83 is released it is permitted to move past the plate Si), while the article to be vended caught on the plate and slides through the opening l.

The plates' SS after 'falling through the openings may be removed together with the rods 2f) b v reason of the l'act that thc }.ierl'orations S5 of thc plates are o1n less dian|- eter than that of the head T5 ol' the rods. For permitting removal ol' the rods and thc plates ai'ter the last article has been discharged l provide the 'front wall o1' the cabinety with an opening 9T normallv closed bv a mirror and its trame Slt) and held in po.-ition by meansl ot a loch Htl. ii lter the last article ot the stack is discharged a new stach alrcml)Y charged with articles may he rcadilv inserted in the machine.

lheierablv. but not necessarily. the mech anisms are .so timed that but one article is discharged for each coin. lt will be understood. however. that ilE desired the mechanism can be arranged to release more than one plate at a time or it desired more, than one article maw7 rest' on a plate so as to dis charge in either case a plurality of' articles for one coin. lreterablv. but not: necessarily, the bottom members of the respective, stacks are discharged alternately and although l have shown two stacks it will be understood that l may me but one or more than two and it desired so time the mech 'nio lill

anismftofdischarge an article from more than one nstack lfor the same rcoin.

oie-preventing `the insertionof a coin after thearticles are ydischarged 'I :herein provide '5 thefbackofitherotatable member 15 `with a pin 103 projectingtoward the interior ofthe cabinet and :for cooperationtherewith I provideaflever"105;pivotedat 107lo1the bar 109 extending across the opening L in thefront '10 `wall -of the cabinet.` `As Vconstructed the lower end 111 of thelever is-:adapted torest aga/inst the edgesotthe articles or plates or' one ofthe stacks; as is 'indicated in Fig. 5. Whenithe last article is discharged,the lever `tiltsf'into its full line position, which causes the 'hookedend portion A113 of `the lever to move 'intothe 'path `-of the `pin 1103 which `it catches on-thereturn movement ofthe membei' 15 `to'hold the slot i17 'thereof frommovintofalignment with the slot 7 ofthe caslll:h-indicate that the stacklhas 'been cornpletely discharged I provide the front wall 'ofthe cabinet adjacent its lower portion Iwith windowsllwhilev resting on the upper articles nit the stackjIprovide a bar 117 having projecting pins l119 Vcarrying a plate 121 whichisl-suitablymarked to indicate to the jobsei'ver, when the platefmoves in front oi' the window, that the machine is then empty.

Preferably, -not necessarily, 4the bar 117 is rOffsubstantial weight in order that it may exert ay lforce tending fto snugly pack the articles 'of the 'stack and 4`vforce themtowards '35 the screws.

` Although -Iny'lmachine-'is adapted to vend other articles I`-liave shown itarranged for vending'towels each of-whichiis -folded and wrapped to form a package or' shape indi- 40 catedin the drawings "Each towel carries -a projecting `tag `123 havinga perforation f125 while extending through the perforations of-allthe towels of the stackfis a rod '127 which at its lower end extends through a slot l12`9-to the exterior #of "the machine The slot is formed "in the bottom wall of 'the cabinet( and opens through the front Jtheredfw'fhile the plate 89 is cut away to "conformto the-slot. At its upper end the Arod extends throughthe perforated bracket 131 and exteriorly thereof is provided with an annular groove 133 for receiving y*the notched end of the lever 4v135, this rlever in an obvious mannerlbeing forced-towardfthe 5 5 position in which such end engages the groove 133 by means of 'a spring 137. At `.spaced points the rod 127is provided with iyield-able spring latches 139 forpreventing `except; when desired relative sliding oithe 'bari and towels and'by'means of'which the towels may be stacked 'and Athe rods after insertion preventedfrom accidental-removal y during shipment ofthe stacks. W'henlthe towel -is `released it may be pulled out of the machine by `the operator through `the i'tions of the opening `1 and the tag ithrough the slot 129 and ,while being used will beheld Von the upper `portion of :that partiof the rod fexterior to the cabinet by the lower springzlatch Y139.y :After @using Athe `towel `:the Vuser may pull fthe towel downwardly over the -latch f139 and permitthe towel to fall-'to the rbottom ofthe rod on wli-icliit will be retained vby theball 141 onthe end ofthe rod.

Although I have described -i'or @purposes Vof illustration one specific embodiment nf m invention it is to be understood ftliat within thescope of myinvention widedeviations may be made `from said embodiment without departing from the spirit of -my invention.

I claim* i l. In a vending inachine, a pair otrods each carrying a screw Aand being `mounted for rotation, a plurality of plates-stacked on said lrods and each shaving `perforations for receiving said rods'and screws, .andthe portion of said perforations receiving .said screws onone of said plates being-singularly 'disposed relatively to the corresponding or.

-pairs `of l.rods each i-slidably; carrying a .stack Vof plates, screws carried by said rods for releasinof said platesand means foivrotating 'said rots fordischarging plate-sirom said stacks in alternation.`

4. Ina vending machine7 a plufralitvof pairs of rodseac-h carrying-astaelcofplates screws carried by .said rods for releasing said plates, and means forrotatiiigallof saidlrods -step by step, and :saidscrews :ibe-

.in'gso arranged.relativeito each otheritliat a plate from onestack isdischarged during one step without discharge ,-from the other and `viceversa on the next step.

5. In a vending machine, the combination of 4article releasing means comprising .a pair of rods, plates having spaced perforations, a screw carried by eaclrrod forpermitting movement of said plates 'from `one portion yof said rods `to another, and :means .for retaining said plates on said rods afterfpassing said screws.

y'6. In a vending machine, the combination of article releasing means comprising Va pluralityof pairs of spaced rods, screws carriedby Vsaid rods, plates having perforations Vfitting saidzrodsand screws, an endless chain for rotating-said rods, ia .shaft having an oscillatory motion, and a clutch cooperating with said shaft and chain tor causing said chain to move step by step in only one direction.

7. A vending machine having, in combination, a pluralityv ot plates for supporting articles, means for retaining said plates and articles in a stack comprising a rotatable screw the upper end of which engages the lovvermost plate only of said stack, said plates having n'ieans cooperating with said screw for causing step by step rotation of said screiv to release said plates one after the other from the bottom of said stack.

8. A vending machine having, in combination, a plurality ot' plates for supporting articles, means for retaining said plat s and articles in a. stack comprising a pair ot spaced vertical screws the upper ends ot Which engage the lovvermost plate only ol said stack, said plates having means cooperating with said screws for causing step by step rotation of said screws to release said plates one after the other from the bottom of said stack.

9. A vending machine having, in combination, a plurality of plates for supporting articles, means for retaining said plates and articles in a stack comprising a pair of spaced vertical screvvs the upper .ends ot which engage the lovvermost plate only ot said stack, said plates having means cooperating with said screws for causing step by step rotation of said screvvs to release said plates one after the other from the bottom ot said stack, and means for simultaneously rotating said screws step by step.

l0. A vending machine having, in combination, a plurality of article supporting members, a pair of spaced vertical rods extending through perforations in said members, screws on .said members tor supporting the lovvermost member, said periorations formed for releasing said members upon rotation of said screws, and means forrotating said screws.

ll. A vending machine having, in combi nation. a plurality of article supporting members. a. pair ot spaced vertical rods cxtending through perforalions in said members, screws iixedly carried on said members for supporting the lovvermost member. said perforations formed for releasing said members upon rotation ot said screws, and means for rotating said rods.

12. A vending machine having, in combination, a plurality ot article supporting members arranged in a stack, a pair ot spaced vertical rods extending through pertorations in said members, stops on said rods engaging the lovvermost member `tor supporting said stack, said perforations formed for releasing said members upon rotation ot said stops, and means tor rotating said stops.

13. A vending machine having, in combination, a plurality of article supporting members arranged in a stack, a pair of spaced vertical rods extending through pertin-ations in said members, stops ixedly carried on said rods engaging the lovvermost member :tor supporting said stack, said perl`orations formed for releasing said members upon rotation ol said stops, and means for rotating said rods.

ll. A, vending machine having, in combination means for supporting a plurality of articles in a stack comprising a plurality ot members adapted to be interleaved with said articles. means for releasing said members comprising a plurality of rotatable parts carrying stop devices cooperating with said members. the. latter having perforations formed ior receiving .said parts and for cooperating with said stop devices to cause said members` to be released successively upon rotation of said parts, and manually operable means for rotating said parts simulianeously.

l5. it vending machine having, in combination, a pair ot rotatable, spaced vertical guide rods, a plurality of article supporting plates having perforations through which said rods extend, said rods having laterally extending substantially helical portions upon which the bottom plate of said plurality of plaies supported, said perforations of said plates having lateral enlargements adapted to permit said plates to pass by said laterally extending portions ot said rods, and means for rotating said rods to cause said laterally extending portions of said rods to he moved into registry with said lateral enlargements of said pert'orations and said plates to be ted past said portions.

lo. A. vending machine having, in combination, a plurality of article supporting members, a casing for said members having guide means engaging said members for retaining them in stacked relation and permitting the stack of members to move do\vn vrardly toward the bottom of said casing, said casing having in a wall thereof an article discharge opening above the bottom oi? said casiiig. stop means Jfor engaging the loivermost article supporting member of .said stack for maintaining such member adjacent said opening. an operating handle. mechanism opi'irativcly connecting .said handle with said stop means tor causing motion of said handle to cause said loiverinostarticle snpporting member to be released and fall loivard the bottom oi said casing, and means for engaging the article supported by said lovvermost member for passing thel article through said opening ivhen .said loivermost member is released.

In testimony whereof. I have signed my name to this specification.

CHARLES LEA.

lli) 

